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In an industry that has traditionally produced its own senior executives, Sergio Marchionne was definitely an outsider.

But this clearly proved no impediment as tributes poured in from both sides of the Atlantic for a man credited with rescuing two ailing car giants – Fiat and Chrysler – who died last week at the age of 66.

Words like visionary and maverick were being tossed around as people recalled a man who in many ways was the antithesis of the conventional corporate executive.

“Marchionne was not even known as a car guy. But he brought a combination of skills from finance to deal-making,” said Willy Shih, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School.